Daily Writing

Thursday, 30 January 2020

…and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked… 2 Peter 2:7

Peter went from the example of the flood to that of Sodom and Gomorrah, where he noted that it was turned into ashes and the people were condemned to destruction. This was recorded as “an example to those who afterward would live ungodly.” However, the Lord stands watch over all people, and in the case of Sodom, it says He “delivered righteous Lot.”

Lot is set in contrast to those who were condemned to destruction. Instead, he was delivered. Further, it is his conduct which brought that about. He is called here, “righteous.” It is a word Peter will use three times in verses 2:7 and 2:8 when speaking of Lot. Some scholars note this and then qualify the statement by saying that this only applied to his time in Sodom, but later when he lived in the cave with his daughters it was not so. The Bible does not make this leap, and the account of Lot’s time in the cave is recorded for a specific purpose which has less to do with Lot than it has to do with the character and hopes of his two daughters.

Despite this, while in Sodom, Peter says that Lot was “oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked.” The word translated as “oppressed” gives the sense of being overwhelmed by labor or suffering. Lot must have trudged through the streets of Sodom and felt the burden of fallen humanity, seeing their conduct and mourning over it. The question in his mind was probably not unlike the question of many moral Christians today, concerning both the state of the world and the state of the church, “How could we have fallen into such a state of depravity?”

This is then highlighted by the use of the word translated as “conduct.” It signifies something that is not in the proper or acceptable order, meaning it is out of place. Thus, it is conduct which is morally lawless and at variance with the nature of God. Paul speaks of such a state in Romans 1:18-32. As noted, any moral Christian need look no further than the church itself.

There are pedophiles who fill the halls of Roman Catholicism. There are perverts in the pulpits of many major denominations. There are sexually abusive people whose shameless acts are uncovered and then applauded in church after church. If this is the state of the church, how can the world ever be brought to see their own sin and mourn over it?

Life application: It may seem strange to read the term “righteous Lot” when comparing him with other noted figures in the Bible. Even figures who were fault-filled still seem to exceed Lot in righteousness. However, making comparisons to others is a fundamental flaw of people looking for personal justification rather than that which comes from God.

In other words, if you ask a person, “Why should God accept you into heaven?” the answer quite often is, “Well, I’m a good person…I’m not like Adolph Hitler.” The fact of the matter, though, is that neither Adolph Hitler nor any other person is the subject of the question. To answer in this way is a diversion brought in to move the question away from the main point.

A more direct and appropriate question would be, “Why do you think you deserve eternal life.” The question demands a direct answer, and the answer must be precise – “I have accepted Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Savior.” Any answer which fails to include the merit of Jesus Christ alone then fails the test of righteousness. One cannot say, “I have led a good life,” “I paid tithes to my church,” “I did this,” or “I did that.” Such answers exclude the righteousness demanded by God – that of appropriately placed faith.

The Bible says, “Abraham believed God and He credited it to him for righteousness.” Taking God at his word is the path to imputed righteousness. The often-veiled truths of the Old Testament are fulfilled, and sealed, in the New Testament. This full revelation of God tells us of the work of Jesus. Lot’s righteousness, like Abraham’s, didn’t come from works or a perfect life. If we try to find that in the telling of his life, we would be left scratching our head about God’s selection. Lot’s greatness isn’t what is important; God’s is. Lot, despite any perceived faults, received God’s imputed righteousness by faith, just as we must.

Lord God, you have made it both very difficult and yet supremely easy to be justified before You. It is so very hard to put away our personal attempts at righteousness and few truly do it. However, once we have left ourselves out of the equation, we have access to the greatest Gift of all – our Lord’s righteousness. And this, through a simple act of faith. Thank You for Jesus! Amen.

Wednesday, 29 January 2020

…and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 2 Peter 2:6

Peter now moves from the consequences of the Flood of Noah to another great time of God’s wrath and judgment being poured out on the wicked, that of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this, he begins with “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes.” This continues the thought first presented in verse 2:4. Peter says, “For if God did not spare…”

He is showing that God is consistent in judgment, not sparing the angels who sinned, and then not sparing the ancient world which was filled with wickedness. Now he will speak of not sparing a city filled with perversion.

The world was destroyed by flood, but the wickedness of man continued on. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is noted as that of sexual immorality. More specifically, however, the account looks to the perverse and unnatural sin of homosexuality. The people of the town were deviants who purposed to violently rape the guests who had come under the roof of Lot.

It is assumed by some scholars that Ham, the son of Noah, committed a perverse homosexual act on his own father. The reason for this is that the word used there, and translated as “saw,” is also used in Leviticus 20:17 concerning seeing the nakedness of a close family member, but implying a sexual encounter with that person. Whether this is the case or not, it is something that carried on in the post-flood world, and which became so rampant in the area of Sodom that the Lord determined to destroy the city.

When the city of Sodom came against Lot and his guests, the final decision for destruction was made. The Lord made a way for Lot and his family to escape the destruction, and then it came, reducing the city to ashes. In this, He “condemned them to destruction.” The word Peter uses is katastrophé. One can see the source of our modern word catastrophe. In the New Testament, it was used by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:14, and then it is used here. However, it is also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:29.

In the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God was “making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly.” It has become fashionable for homosexuals in the modern church to claim that God “is doing a new thing,” and that He has accepted their perverse lifestyle. However, they do not speak for God. He has spoken and His word is set. It is a reflection of His own eternal and unchanging nature.

The destruction of Sodom will be played out, once again, on a world scale as the world is destroyed by fire. Peter will explain that in Chapter 3. Until then, he will continue with his words concerning the false teachers and the consequences which will come upon them because of their unholiness.

The examples of the past have been given, and the warning that those examples set is there for all to see, even into the future. For such perverse people, they will eventually meet with their appointed, time and the reward for their actions will finally be meted out upon them. Though it may seem to tarry, the Lord’s judgment will come.

Life application: Sodom and Gomorrah stand as one of the premier examples of judgment in the Bible, mentioned more often than the Flood of Noah. Maybe this is because the sins of Sodom are specifically addressed, whereas the Bible only mentions that the “wickedness of man was great upon the earth” at the time of Noah.

Comparisons to Sodom are made almost 20 times elsewhere in the Old Testament and about 10 times in the New. To this day, a term for a specific type of perversion derives its name from Sodom – a perversion which is condemned as unnatural, unhealthy, and worthy of destruction. Because of this immorality and aberrant behavior, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah – leveling them to ashes.

The prophet Jeremiah speaks in the same manner as Peter concerning the false prophets of his time –

“Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem:
They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one turns back from his wickedness.
All of them are like Sodom to Me,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.” Jeremiah 23:14

The leaders and prophets steered the people away from God and towards their own twisted paths. Eventually, the people of Israel were conquered and exiled.

The same occurred again in Jesus’ time. In fact, Jesus said that Sodom and Gomorrah’s judgment wouldn’t be as severe as for those who rejected His offer of peace. Let us accept Jesus’ words, His ministry, and His work – accomplished on our behalf. Otherwise, a terrible fate awaits us too.

Surely You, O God, cannot tolerate sin. Because of our sins, we cannot stand before You. So, Lord, cover us with Jesus’ righteousness and grant us His protection from the storm of judgment which will again surely cover the earth. Purify our hearts and help us to live – from this day forward – lives that are holy and pleasing to You. Amen.

Tuesday, 28 January 2020

…and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 2 Peter 2:5

Peter now turns to a second example of God’s punishment upon the wicked, speaking of it as a completely separate event than that of the previous verse. In this, he says, “and did not spare the ancient world.” This is speaking of the world at the time from Adam to the Flood of Noah. At that time, the world was in a completely different state than it is in today. That ancient world, as is learned in Genesis 6, had become completely wicked. There was no longer a remedy for the masses, and so the Lord took action –

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ⁷ So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ ⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:5-8

As it says in Genesis, and as Peter confirms, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” and so God “saved Noah, one of eight people.” The word “saved” is not a good translation. The word is phulassó, and it signifies to be kept or spared. Someone is saved out of a disaster. Noah was spared from a disaster, having been kept safe by the Lord before it occurred. He was told to build an ark, and when the ark was built, the Lord shut the door. Thus, he was “preserved,” or “spared.”

The eight were Noah and his wife, and his three sons and their wives. But the highlight is on Noah because he was “a preacher of righteousness.” The word used by Peter signifies a herald, which is exactly what a preacher should do. They are to call out as a town-crier words of righteousness.

The amazing thing to consider is that Noah was such a herald, calling out for righteousness, and yet nobody was taken aboard the ship with him. None were found faithful enough to simply admit his defilement and asked to be kept from the judgment which Noah surely proclaimed was coming. But the use of the number eight is a beacon of hope all by itself. In the Bible, the number is consistently used to signify “new beginnings.”

Through this single family, a new world would appear. However, in order for this to occur, there must be judgment upon those left behind. And so, Peter ends with the fact that though Noah was spared, God was also “bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.” While Noah was spared, those who failed to heed were swept away. The entire earth, everything that had the breath of life, was brought to an end.

It must be considered here that the verse speaks of “the ancient world” as a separate event than the previous verse which spoke of the “angels who sinned.” The two are separate events. To tie them both together into one account in order to justify that Genesis 6 is speaking of angels sleeping with human women is untenable. The implication is that those angels fell before the establishment of the ancient world where man would dwell. And this is exactly what is seen in Genesis 3. The serpent, elsewhere noted as “Satan” and the “devil,” was already a fallen being. This verse in 2 Peter does not support the angel/human hybrid theory. Rather, it fully speaks against it.

Peter’s words of this verse are given to clearly show that God’s judgment can be expected. If He destroyed the entire world once, there is no reason at all to think that He will somehow tolerate our own unrighteous conduct, and rejection of the gospel which came at the high cost of Calvary’s cross.

Life application: As has been demonstrated several times in the New Testament – including by Jesus’ own words – the Flood of Noah is taken as a literal truth by Peter which we can rely on. It is not a myth which was invented to project a moral lesson. In fact, the entire flood account is considered trustworthy, not only that it occurred, but that there was a real ark, a real man named Noah, and seven people with him.

Nothing anywhere in Scripture or in the geologic record demonstrates that this was a myth. Rather, the evidence for a flood is found throughout the world –in the legends of every major people-group on earth, within the geologic record, within the mitochondrial DNA of humans, and even in the alphabet of the Chinese people – an alphabet which reaches back to antiquity, even to the time of Babel itself.

We have every reason to be sure that God’s judgment occurred exactly as Peter proclaims, and that his previous and coming analysis on the judgment of those who falsely portray the gospel will also be judged. Peter says that despite the righteous preaching of Noah, the people of the world rejected his words. Because of this, there was no remedy, and God destroyed the world of unrighteousness.

Likewise, man is again setting himself up for destruction. The world of today has a testimony far superior to that of Noah – the gift of God’s own Son. Despite this ultimate demonstration of love, the world is rejecting God’s offer and is ripe for His wrath.

O God, may our hearts break for the lost souls of the world. May Your glorious gospel go forth and snatch precious souls from the sure destruction to come. Use us, O God, use us as instruments of Your righteousness and for the sake of Your gospel of peace. May the nations be glad when they hear the good news of Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, 26 January 2020

By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:3

Peter now continues with his words concerning the false teachers he introduced in verse 2:1. He says of them that “By covetousness they will exploit you.” The Greek word en, or “in,” is used – “In covetousness.” It is the realm in which they live, move, and operate. In that life sphere, they take advantage of, and exploit, others.

Here, he uses a word – translated as “exploit” – which was only used elsewhere in James 4:13, emporeuomai. One can see the basis of the word “emporium” in it. It means to make gain or engage in trade. These false teachers “engage in the trade” of leading others astray. As an emporium has many articles for sale, the appeal is to the masses. The more deceived followers, the happier these people are.

Nothing is said of the type of covetousness here because each may have his own perverse failing which controls his existence. For some it may be money, for others it may be the wielding of power, for others it may be sexual perversion. Whatever it is that they covet, they know that religion is a way of obtaining the fulfillment of their sick desires, and so they exploit others “with deceptive words.”

Now Peter uses a word which is only found here in Scripture, plastos. Here, we can easily see the basis for the word “plastic.” It signifies to mold by using clay or wax. Thus, one forges something which is artificial, contrived, and unrealistic. These false teachers take something which is obviously intended to be presented in one way, and they reform it into something entirely contrary to what it was intended to be.

Generally, there are up to four ways of viewing an Old Testament passage – literal, moral, historical, and prophetic. Each of these may be valid in some measure. For example, the Ark of the Covenant was literally made. It was actually fashioned in the manner given and with the materials provided.

But the Ark also bears a moral lesson for the people. The tablets were placed inside, signifying that though the law was given to the people, it was not actually obtainable to them. Atop the ark was the mercy seat where blood was applied each year on the Day of Atonement. That showed that man required a sacrifice for his transgressions under the law. And so on.

The Ark also carried meaning historically. It was given to Israel only. It was given for the duration of the time of the law, meaning the Mosaic Covenant. Etc.

And the Ark had prophetic significance. Each aspect of it looked to Christ. The type of wood looked to Christ’s human nature – morally incorruptible. The pure gold looked to His deity. The tablets of law, placed inside of it, looked to Him as the embodiment of the law. And so on.

In analyzing Scripture, such things must be reasonable, they must match the rest of Scripture in purpose and intent, and they must be consistent. However, someone may take this pattern and reshape it into something entirely unintended. In doing so, the true meaning of these things is lost, and people are pulled into strange and aberrant doctrines.

For example, some have said that the shape and materials of the ark actually form a transmitter which would be so powerful, it could be used to talk directly to aliens or God. Such nonsense has nothing to do with what is conveyed by God. It is a bucket full of lies, and yet, it is believed by people who want to hear such things. They look to have their ears tickled, and they have no desire to know the truth. For every such sucker, there is someone to lead him along on the road to destruction.

Of such people, Peter says that “for a long time their judgment has not been idle.” The KJV says, “a long time lingereth not,” as if this is speaking of the duration of time in the past, and that the time of waiting is soon to come. Rather, the Greek reads, “from of old their judgment has not been idle.”

The duration of time past is not what is being relayed, but that the coming judgment has been ordained all along. And the amount of future time is not what is being considered as much as what occurs during the time. There is nothing idle in the process. Their judgment is being worked out the whole time that their actions are also being worked out.

While these false teachers are working out evil in their sphere of covetousness, their judgment – or sentence – is also being actively worked out. Nothing of what is due them is missed, and what will come upon them will be appropriate to their level of wicked work. One can look back at the wickedness of man – in Genesis 6, or that of Sodom and Gomorrah – and see that, from of old, such things were not tolerated, and they are not tolerated still. Peter then further says that “their destruction does not slumber.”

There is no time that the destruction which is called for in such cases simply takes a nap. Rather, it is always ready to be poured out on such people. And when it comes, it is because God has determined that it is time for it to be so. The idea is that people see other false teachers profiting off their flocks. They then begin to think, “God doesn’t care. I will take advantage of the situation too.” But at some point, God will judge such things, and their destruction is sure. It will be total in its effects, and it will be final – just as it was at the Flood of Noah, and just as it was for Sodom and Gomorrah.

Life application: The false teachers that Peter has been speaking of have fallen into the same trap of the world as any common criminal – covetousness. Their eyes are full of greed and lust as they look at the pleasures of the world around them and betray the truth of the Bible for dishonest gain. This is accomplished by exploiting their followers with deceptive words where the truth of the Bible is twisted and manipulated for the sake of money.

A perfect place to go in order to witness firsthand such twisted teaching is televangelism. A large portion of these people simply look at the Bible as a tool to get rich. They take something good, turn it to financial gain, and make it appear as if what they are doing is the standard.

This is what happens, for example, on Wall Street. It is also what happens in the ministries of false teachers. People mix what is right with that which is inappropriate. Anytime (anytime!) a pastor, evangelist, preacher, priest, or teacher promises you a financial (or otherworldly) blessing for sending his (or her) ministry money, you should run, not walk, from them. There are no “financial breakthroughs,” “financial harvests,” “miracle healings,” etc. to be found by following this avenue. There is only an exchange of money from your pocket to theirs.

Peter has strong words of condemnation for those who would twist Scripture for gain. These people, seemingly pious and sincere, will receive enormously large and lengthy doses of God’s wrath for perverting what He has given to man in love – His Son.

Jesus hung on a cross to free men’s souls, not to enrich the people of His flock. We shouldn’t kiss the ring of the notable, we shouldn’t look forward to profit by our gifts to them, and we shouldn’t expect a miracle for our faith. Rather, we look to the Lord with gratitude and thanksgiving for having saved us from what we rightfully deserve – judgment and condemnation. Thank You Lord for having mercy on us!

Lord, You have given us more than we could ever imagine – forgiveness and redemption. This came at the highest cost of all, the cross of Jesus our Lord. May we never expect more, and may our souls be satisfied in You alone. Keep us from those who would lead us into covetousness, and keep our hearts, minds, souls, and thoughts on Jesus alone. Amen.